New Kitchen ....help please?

sukysue

Am in the process of getting a new kitch and am very tempted by IKEA but have heard their sizes are a bit strange????Also their measuring up is very difficult to do imho!
Also would like to know where are generally the cheapest/best made kitchens from !
In fact am so thick about things like this any advice/opinions,most gratefully recieved thanks in advance!!

pinkgem

i will be getting an ikea kitchen shortly, it has all been planned out and all the plumbing is in place.

best thing to do is to get one of their kitchen leaflets which lists sizes or all units so you can plan your kitchen

my kitchen in my last house was a Focus kitchen, very cheap, looked fine and didn't have any problems with it

warning_uk

sukysue wrote: »

would like to know where are generally the cheapest/best made kitchens from !

'Cheapest' would probably be Ikea, I guess, but the usual warnings about cheap and cheerful...

'Best' in my mind are http://www.arenakitchens.co.uk/ who supply one of the larger UK department stores, but you can buy direct, saving 50-70%... When we dealt with this company 3 years ago, they were very helpful with the overall planning, then we ordered, they delivered (all units already assembled, which gives a very solid feel to the kitchen) and had them fitted by a local joiner... a bit more effort than an all-in-one service, but gave us loads of flexibility and a huge discount.

In terms of planning, we used the very useful tool at http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_GB/complete_kitchen_guide/planner_tool/index.html to give us a really good idea of what would fit in...

hope this helps
dave

El_Maverick

I am just installing an Ikea kitchen in my house at the moment. I checked all the major outlets and some internet sites and found them to be the best value.

There are some restrictions :-

1/ Slightly strange sizes (i.e. 800mm is largest base cabinet instead of 1000mm like most) but that can be worked around.

2/ They do come flat packed so you will need to be prepared to put them together or pay someone to install it.

3/ If you are doing it yourself the instruction come with each part (i.e. 1 with cabinet, 1 with door, 1 with drawer and 1 with hinges). If you follow them in that order you will end up in some very strange positions trying to screw bits together, put all drawer runners, hinges etc on sides before you put the cabinet together.

4/ The cabinets fit flush to the wall without any false back to run pipes etc , so planning is essential.

4/ Although cheap the quality looks very good and if guarenteed for 10 years.

On planning download the Ikea planner listed in the above post it is fantastic, just enter the dimensions of your kitchen and then start dragging and dropping in the cabinets. You can go and see a nice 3-D version as well.

milkydrink

I have one & I love it.

I love the extra deep (easily fit a dinner plate) extra tall (no dirt/dust traps on top, reach the ceiling) 92 cm high wall units.

The drawers & runners are good quality too.

If you've got the time to wait, their made to measure worktops look good. I was in a rush so got my worktops from B&Q as their 246cm long worktop wasn't long enough for me.

My kitchen fitter said it was the first Ikea kitchen he had fitted, & it was fiddly (no gap behind wall units) but the quality was good.

wendyh

Wickes have thier sale on at the moment, which will carry on for ever!! Their kitchens have soft touch closures on all drawers and they have a good selection. Much prefer their range to any of the others. A couple of builders have warned me off Ikea as they find them a nightmare to fit!

clairehi

kimevans wrote: »

a
My kitchen fitter said it was the first Ikea kitchen he had fitted, & it was fiddly (no gap behind wall units) but the quality was good.

A friend of mine had big problems installing an Ikea kitchen as there is no space for pipework behind the units. Id be interested to know how people get round it as it has put me off having one.

milkydrink

Im assuming youre talking about the base units.

Drop any pipework beneath plinth, usually at least 16cms there.

That's where the water pipe for our american fridge/freezer runs.
No gas pipes, Electric cooker.
Pipes for water come in wall where sink is & dishwasher is one side & washer the other, EASY.

donna-j_2

We've just fitted our ikea kitchen and it was easy. One tricky issue with the pipes for the sink but they can just go through holes cut in the sides of the cabinets. Quality is fantastic.

pwl

El_Maverick wrote: »

I am just installing an Ikea kitchen in my house at the moment. I checked all the major outlets and some internet sites and found them to be the best value.

There are some restrictions :-

1/ Slightly strange sizes (i.e. 800mm is largest base cabinet instead of 1000mm like most) but that can be worked around.

2/ They do come flat packed so you will need to be prepared to put them together or pay someone to install it.

3/ If you are doing it yourself the instruction come with each part (i.e. 1 with cabinet, 1 with door, 1 with drawer and 1 with hinges). If you follow them in that order you will end up in some very strange positions trying to screw bits together, put all drawer runners, hinges etc on sides before you put the cabinet together.

4/ The cabinets fit flush to the wall without any false back to run pipes etc , so planning is essential.

4/ Although cheap the quality looks very good and if guarenteed for 10 years.

On planning download the Ikea planner listed in the above post it is fantastic, just enter the dimensions of your kitchen and then start dragging and dropping in the cabinets. You can go and see a nice 3-D version as well.

In respect of the slightly strange sizes of IKEA cabinets, does this impact upon the choice of appliances and, therefore, do you have to buy appliances from IKEA so that they fit with their cabinets?

Thanks.

Peter

pwl

Any thoughts? Thanks.

pwl wrote: »

In respect of the slightly strange sizes of IKEA cabinets, does this impact upon the choice of appliances and, therefore, do you have to buy appliances from IKEA so that they fit with their cabinets?

Thanks.

Peter